PhD Studentship: Online Sensing in Biomanufacturing - Reference: SAM21/20

Start date of studentship: 01 Oct 2021

Loughborough University is a top-ten rated university in England for research intensity (REF2014). In choosing Loughborough for your research, you’ll work alongside academics who are leaders in their field. You will benefit from comprehensive support and guidance from our Doctoral College, including tailored careers advice, to help you succeed in your research and future career.

Find out more: http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/supporting-you/research/

Full Project Detail:

Despite the clear regulatory guidance on the use of process analytical technologies (PAT) in pharmaceutical manufacturing, the routine use of PAT for online realtime measurements is still unrealised due to fundamental limitations with the current technologies. The proposed project aims to apply a novel acoustic method developed as part of a pioneering research at Loughborough University that demonstrated the feasibility of deriving “acoustic signatures” unique to a cell line that that can be employed for their online characterization entirely electronically. You will work with a cross-disciplinary team of supervisors and cell therapy industry experts to extend the technology readiness level of this method by making it more robust, clinically relevant, and industry-adoptable. You will derive statistically reproducible “acoustic signatures” for erythropoietic stem cell lines by gathering acoustic sensor data on clinically relevant attributes at key culture stages and correlating those with results from gold standard analytical tools. You will apply the principles of biometrology to translate and scale up the analytical method towards industry adoption. The project will help you acquire industry-critical advanced-level skills and experience in cell/tissue culture, acoustic and microfluidic technology, biometrology, statistical data analysis tools, and state-of-the-art Containment Level 2 bioanalytical suites at the Centre for Biological Engineering - a Centre of Excellence within the University.

Find out more:

https://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/meme/research/research-centres/regenerative-medicine/

Entry requirements:

We are looking for a dynamic engineer or scientist with strong analytical and communication skills. Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject in Engineering, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences or Biotechnology, and demonstrate a strong multidisciplinary interest. A relevant Master’s degree and/or experience in one or more of the following will be an advantage: cell/tissue culture, bioanalytical technology (flow cytometry, ELISA, or acoustic/microfluidics sensors), data analysis, working in a bio-lab.

How to apply:

All applications should be made online at http://www.lboro.ac.uk/study/apply/research/.  Under programme name, select ‘Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering’.  Please quote reference number: SAM21/20.